Flock History

History of Anchorage Farm Romney Flock

Banklea 639 photo: Richard A. Brown

This Romney flock began in 1981 at Wethersfield Farm in Amenia NY, under the flock name Wethersfield, with the purchase of 3 ewes from Brenda Bothe (NJ) and of a ram from Peter and Patty Drape (NY).

In 1992 we moved to a 250-year old farm in Saugerties, NY and changed the flock name to Anchorage to go with the  name of our new place.

Bullock 0406

Additions of white ewes since 1981: in 1982, one Sattler (MI); in 1984, one Oaklawn (MI);in 1985, two Kessi (OR); 1987, eight Judah (WA); in 1988, fourteen Bellairs (MI), 3 Loesch (MI), 2 Gavin (MI), 1 DeBano (MT), 1 Williams (MI); in 1989, two Judah (WA); 1992, two North Star (VT), 1 Rogue Romney (OR) and 13 Judah (WA); in 1994, three Judah (WA) and 11 Running Battle (NY); in 1995, five Marsh (MA); in 1996, one Bolton (NY); in 1997, one Gavin (MI); in 1998, twenty-six Nudd, 2 Guild, 2 Allou (NY), 1 Bristle (MI), 1 Sandhill (Ullman); in 1998, one Bullock (WA), 1 Kikitangeo (Imp NZ); in 2005, eight ewes from Pin Oak Farms (OR). The North Star and Running Battle ewes were nearly all Judah first or second generation. In 2011, 1 ewe from SOR (OR) and 1 ewe from Smiling Sheep Farm (NH). In 2012 we added one white color-carrying ewe from Applewood Acres (NY).

Pitchfork Ranch 461 photo Graeme Stewart

Banklea 390

Natural-colored ewes: in 1995, one Rozalia (MA); in 1996, one Weymouth Walk (NJ); in 1997, nine Bellairs (MI) and 2 Weymouth Walk (NJ); in 1998, one Sears (OR), one Sand Hill (Hordyk) (WA).

Anchorage 280-03 ram

Tresco 360

White rams: in 1985, Sassafras Meadow Apollo (KY); in 1987, Judah 667-86 (WA). “Henry!” the ARBA National Champion, was a son of the Judahs’ imported Offord ram; in 1992, Springfield 921 (MD); in 1994, Running Battle 92-039 (NY) ; in 1995, Green Corner 226/93 Tw (Imp NZ)*; in 1998, Kia Ora 203/96 (Imp NZ)**; in 2000, Bullock 9906 (WA); in 2002, Banklea 390/01 (Imp NZ); in 2005, Banklea 639/03 (Imp NZ); in 2005, Bullock 0460 (WA)***; in 2009, Barnes 8082 (OR); in 2010, Morton 0048 (RI)****; in 2013, Pitchfork Ranch 729-13 Tw (MI)   

By artificial insemination, Offord 336/98 NZ***** in 2000 and 2001; Tresco 360/02 Triplet in 2007.

*Res. Ch.  ram hoggett out of >80 and first pair, Wairarapa Show 1994.  First singles Masterton 1994

** whose paternal grand-dam had 21 lambs in 11 years including Royal Show champion Kia Ora 227/90

*** ARBA national champion 2005                   **** ARBA Reserve National Champion 2011       *****half-brother to Royal Show Champion

Weymouth Walk 0206 “Arjuna”

Green Corner 226-93 Tw Imp NZ

Natural-colored rams: in 1995 Weymouth Walk 9321B (NJ) ; in 1997, Silver Creek 557-93B (AI) Tw (OR); in 2003, Weymouth Walk 0206 (NJ); in 2005 Pitchfork Ranch 388 Tw (MI); in 2007 Pitchfork Ranch 461-07 (MI); in 2010, Tawanda Farms X001 (CA); in 2013 Pitchfork Ranch 721-13B   (MI)

In the years  1999-2013 we have weaned close to 1100 lambs, 50.3% males.  The male:female ratio varied a lot, however, year to year from a low of 0.78 to a high of 1.38.  Overall, birth types (by ewe giving birth) were distributed as follows: singletons 31%, twins 59%, triplets or quads 10%.  Quads (5 sets in all) were uncommon. We had only two sets in which all survived.  Not counting three years when AI had been done in September,  the  earliest first live birth was January 23.